Tiempo Climate Newswatch

World food prices rose 40 per cent over 2007 according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). "Urgent and new steps are needed to prevent the negative impacts of rising food prices from further escalating and to quickly boost crop production in the most affected countries," said FAO director-general Jacques Diouf. "Without support for poor farmers and their families in the hardest-hit countries, they will not be able to cope," he continued. The shortage is the result of a combination of factors: low stocks, high oil prices, droughts and floods and the demand for biofuels.

The year 2007 also saw more frequent and costlier natural disasters, according to German re-insurance company Munich Re. This, the company concludes, could be a sign of things to come. "These events cannot, of course, be attributed solely to climate change, but they are in line with the pattern that we can expect in the long term: severe storms, more heavy rainfall and a greater tendency towards flooding," said Peter Höppe of Munich Re's Geo Risks Research Department. The worst human catastrophes during 2007 struck developing nations. More than 11,000 people died in Asia in natural disasters, with about 3,300 lives lost in Bangladesh as Cyclone Sidr hit.

Japanese scientists are seeking ways of reducing climate impacts on the country's rice crop, reports the BBC. "Global warming can affect rice in many ways," according to Toshihiro Hasegawa at the National Institute of Agro-Environmental Sciences near Tokyo. "The plant itself can be very sensitive to temperature at any time of the growth stages. But the most devastating effect can be seen in the late stage of the rice growth," he said. The pollination stage may only last one hour. Experiments suggest that pollination can fail if temperatures rise above 36°C.

The starting point is to consider varieties of rice that are most resistant to high temperatures. Different strains flower at different times of day so selecting those that flower when temperatures are lower is one way forward. Scientists are also examining means of reducing methane emissions. Rice fields are responsible for around a quarter of the nation's methane emissions. "Many other industries have been aware of the need to control emissions in the past," Hasegawa commented. "In agriculture there was more focus on environmental concerns. But scientists can help farmers to change their behaviour. We need to take strong action."

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) recommends that developing nations invest more in urban and indoor agriculture to ensure an adequate food supply for growing city populations. The aim is to "make most efficient use of space using controlled environments," according to WMO secretary-general Michel Jarraud.

The WMO is also advising member nations to make greater use of agro-meteorological products, which can also aid adaptation of changing climate conditions, and to make available the latest information about climate impacts on local farming systems and water resources. The recommendations were made during a WMO working group meeting to promote sustainable farming practices in Asia, held in Hanoi.